Suicide First Aid for Children & Young People (SFA: CYP) in Schools

Course overview:

Teaching the theory and practise of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any educative setting with transferable skills to personal settings. Captured in a one-day training event, (City & Guilds Assured) for School Staff seeking greater understanding and confidence to intervene with CYP experiencing suicide thoughts.

Our Associate Tutors have experience working with CYP including backgrounds in Mental Health and Suicide Prevention settings.

SFA: CYP course gives Learners the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths amongst CYP. Responding appropriately from a Safeguarding perspective, underpinned by UNCRC and a trauma informed approach.

Course content:

SFA: CYP course is comprised of 4 parts, each 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches knowledge and skills needed to identify CYP who may be thinking about suicide with the opportunity to build confidence through practise to competently facilitate a Suicide First Aid intervention.

Methods of delivery:

Delivered over 1 day, this interactive and engaging learning experience with Tutor led presentations, films and group work can be delivered ‘face to face’ or online.

Trauma Informed Practice:

SFA: CYP will not detail graphic content of means to suicide and there is no expectation on Learners to share personal experiences. Learners will be asked to self-reflect and consider how suicide impacts CYP and those supporting them when they are having suicide thoughts.

Who should attend?

Principals, Head Teachers/Heads of Year, Safeguarding leads, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, School counsellors, Pastoral Staff, Residential School Settings, School Health Nurses, LSA (Learning Support Assistant)/ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistance)/School based Counsellors/Youth Workers. Administration Staff, Primary Care Staff/Hospital School Teaching Teams, Alternative Education Provision, Secure Unit Staff Teams etc.

City & Guilds

SFA: CYP is assured by City & Guilds with an additional option to purchase a certificate and digital badge.

Trainer

Sheree Williams is the lead trainer for Suicide First Aid in Blaenau Gwent and is an experienced trainer and public speaker with over 30 years’ experience of working within the field of Mental Health. She has extensive experience of managing and developing a whole range of mental health services and training programmes for mental health and wellbeing.

Prior to setting up her own business (Creadau Training and Consultancy) Sheree was the Director of a Wales wide organisation that held the licence for Mental Health First Aid in Wales (MHFA Wales) and, was responsible for the development, dissemination and evaluation of the MHFA programme in Wales as well as the training and upskilling of MHFA instructors .

In 2017 Sheree won the international UALL (Universities Association for Lifelong Learning) Award for her work on a collaborative project that looked at widening participation and community engagement in MHFA.

Sheree also volunteers for two charities - Marauders Mens Health and Garnsychan Partnership - as a trustee.